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Rental car review
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 2:07 pm
by Duck Vader
Now I know I should not expect a really good car but my god this car is rubbish!
And I have to spend a week in it!
It is a new chevy impala.
The ride suspension and ride are so soft I can't feel the road at all. The interior is nothing but hard cheap plastic and the seats leave my back hurting after just 30 minutes. The acceleration is horrible, the handling is so bad I could probably do better with a pool table on a set of stone casters. There is no feel from the steering whatsoever. Visiblility leaves much to be desired and the windows are completely fogged over no matter what I try. The gearbox is incredibly rubbish! It constantly changes gears for no reason, takes forever to decide to change when it does, and always feels lagging.
Styling is incredibly bland as well. It is just like they were not even trying. At least make it hideous to give it some character.
Don't even get me started on the lack of features. I know it is a base model but come on. All I have is power windows, a/c, and cruise control. My old jeep xj had more than that.
On the plus side.... Well at least it has a big boot and can probably fit 4 adults, although not in comfort.
Maybe I have become spoiled with my new car and my new found love of German engineering. Either way, the chevy impala is something I would not recommed to anyone that I consider a friend. Don't get me wrong, I have been in worse, but not much.
Overall score: 3/10
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 4:14 pm
by vr4
Sounds like a typical gm
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 7:20 pm
by Duck Vader
[quote=""vr4""]Sounds like a typical gm[/quote]
Lol. Exactly.
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 7:57 pm
by tabasco122
should have tried out a sonata or optima

Re: Rental car review
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 9:22 pm
by Duck Vader
It was supposed to be a dodge charger, but they only had the impala when I got there.
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 12:58 pm
by alienviking
"New Impala" is relative. That car hasn't changed since.. 1620 I think. New one will be out next year heh.
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:09 pm
by Chris95RT
new found love of German engineering.
Trust me, not all it's cracked up to be.
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 5:15 pm
by Duck Vader
[quote=""Chris95RT""]Trust me, not all it's cracked up to be.[/quote]
Better than gm lol.
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:19 pm
by alienviking
[quote=""Duck Vader""]Better than gm lol.[/quote]
Debatable. There were a good 5-10 years were German cars were total crap (in particular Mercs). They are still rebounding from that. Newer GMs are actually pretty damn good.. and no an Impala designed in 1814 doesn't count heh.
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:27 pm
by Duck Vader
I have yet to see a gm I would recommend to anyone. Or Chrysler product for that matter. Forsake are ok in my book but only a handful. To each his own though.
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:35 pm
by vr4
[quote=""Duck Vader""]I have yet to see a gm I would recommend to anyone. Or Chrysler product for that matter. Forsake are ok in my book but only a handful. To each his own though.[/quote]
+1.
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 1:45 pm
by alienviking
I can name a few GM cars I'd recommend. Couple of Chryslers. And same with Ford.
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 5:36 pm
by vr4
[quote=""alienviking""]I can name a few GM cars I'd recommend. Couple of Chryslers. And same with Ford.[/quote]
how many of these cars do you see on a regular basis with varying mileage and care?
cars prepped for sale by a dealer dont count.
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 6:55 pm
by alienviking
Well I drive one of them myself.. hah.
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:30 pm
by vr4
You base your car purchases on how comfortable the drivers seat is.
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:47 pm
by BillyC
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:56 pm
by alienviking
[quote=""vr4""]You base your car purchases on how comfortable the drivers seat is.[/quote]
No. Well actually it is part of it. Considering Jap cars are made for people under 5 feet yes, I do consider driving comfort. And if you don't you are an idiot.
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:28 pm
by vr4
[quote=""alienviking""] Considering Jap cars are made for people under 5 feet [/quote]
that is one of the dumbest things ive ever heard
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:53 pm
by alienviking
Although said a bit tongue in cheek if that is the dumbest thing you have heard you need to get out more. I made a mental list of Jap cars I have tested and the list got long. I think Subaru comes the closest and Hondas are the absolute worse.
Re: Rental car review
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2020 4:53 pm
by Duck Vader
Since I am picking up a rental in a couple of hours I was thinking about this thread.
Since the last time I updated this I have rented quite a few cars/suvs - not including u-haul trucks.
The ones I can think of off the top of my head - Nissan Maxima and Hyundai Tucson in Hawaii. Subaru Impreza in Pennsylvania. Ford Transit Van in Oregon. I know there are more, but I can't think of what they were right now.
Of the ones I rented the only one I didn't hate was the Tucson. The Maxima was 100% rental car. I would not wish that can on anyone. The Impreza left me unimpressed. It was a base model however so maybe a better one would have been better. The Transit Van was a van. Not much else to say about it.

The Tucson was comfortable enough and handled our luggage well. Biggest draw back was how god damn slow it was. Hell, my XJ felt faster. Other than that, it was easy to drive and actually didn't hate walking out to it.
I am supposed to be getting a F150 or similar here in about 2 hours. I will update this on my thoughts by the end of the week.